MXPA05003071A - A communication manager for providing multimedia in a group communication network. - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for providing group communication services is disclosed. Each of a plurality of group communication devices converts media, such as video, audio, image and/or data into data packets suitable for transmission over a data network, such as the Internet. The data packets are selectively transmitted through the data network to a communications manager. The communications manager acts as a configurable switch, allowing communications from any communication device to be selectively routed to the plurality of communication devices based on the types of the communication devices and/or the requests received from the corresponding users. The communications manager further allows users of other communication systems and devices to participate in group communications with each other.

Description

A COMMUNICATION ADMINISTRATOR TO PROVIDE MULTIMEDIA IN A GROUP COMMUNICATION NETWORK.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The system and method for providing group communication services generally refers to pun-a-mu communication systems 11 ip a or very particularly a method and apparatus for providing video, audio, image and / or data in a network of group communication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Point-to-multipoint communication systems generally provide communications between a central location and multiple system users. For example, dispatch systems using Terrestrial Mobile Radios (LRs), have been used in trucks, taxis, buses, and other vehicles to communicate scheduled information between a central dispatch point and one or more corresponding fleet vehicles. . Communications can be directed to a specific vehicle in the fleet or to all vehicles simultaneously. A class of wireless services that is intended to be fast, efficient services that include one-to-one or one-to-many communication (group communication) operates in a semi-duplex communication type, using a link in advance or one reverse link at a time. A user presses a "press-to-talk" (PTT) button on a phone or radio to initiate a group communication. If given the floor, the user provides the means for a relatively short period. After the user releases the PTT button, or users can request the word. These services have been used t ra d i c i ona lly in applications where a person, a "Dispatcher", you need to communicate with a group of people, such as field service personnel or taxi drivers. Similar services have been offered on the Internet and are generally referred to as "voice conversation". A key feature of these services is that communication is quick and spontaneous, usually initiated by simply pressing a PTT button, without going to the typical dialing and ringing sequence. The communication of this type of services is usually very short, as in where the "power increases" of individual media are usually several seconds, and "communications" last possibly a minute or less. The time delay between when the user requests the word and when the user receives a positive or negative confirmation from the communication manager, indicating that the user has the floor and can begin to provide the means of communication, is known as PTT latency. Semi-duplex PTT communication offers a number of advantages, such as improved bandwidth efficiency, reduced sensitivity to latency, and simplified echo cancellation. Therefore, there is a need to obtain concurrent multimedia communication, for example audio, video, image and / or data, in a semi-duplex mode, which provides the advantages of PTT group communication services.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The described modalities provide methods and apparatus for communicating multimedia among a plurality of communication devices (CDs) operating in a group communication network. The method and system provides: receiving a first means, receiving a second means, and selectively transmitting the first means, the second means or both, or at least one of the plurality of CDs. In one aspect, the transmission selectively includes transmitting based on requests received from the plurality of target communication devices. In another aspect, the transmission selectively includes transmitting based on the plurality of objectives types.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The characteristics, objectives and advantages of the system and method for providing group communication services are more apparent from the detailed description that follows, when considered in conjunction with the figures, where similar reference characters identify correspondingly throughout the present invention, and wherein: Figure 1 is an illustration of a typical wireless communication system of the prior art; Figure 2 illustrates a group communication system of a system mode and method for providing group communication services or in a functional block diagram format; Figure 3 illustrates the operational protocols used in the group communication system of Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates the communication device used in the group communication of Figure 2; Figure 5 illustrates a group communication; Figure 6 is a functional block diagram of a communication manager used in the group communication system of Figure 2; and Figure 7 is a functional block diagram of an integration of a first communication manager and a second communication manager.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The system and method for providing the group communication services uses a communication device (CD) that has the ability to generate data packets that are suitable for transmission over a data network such as the Internet. The data packets are transmitted to a data network, and then are provided to a communications administrator (C) connected to the data network. The CM rejects the data packets it receives from a first CD and distributes the data packets in real time to at least one other CD that is an element of the same group. The CM acts as a configurable switch that has the ability to route communications from any member of the group to other group members held by the same group. Although the teachings of the system and the method for providing the group communication services are described with respect to a wireless CDMA communication system, it should be understood that the system and method for providing the group communication services can be used with any system of wireless communication including GSM systems, AMPS systems, T DMA systems, and satellite communication systems, as well as other communication systems. In addition, the system and method for providing group communication services is not limited to wireless communication systems. They can be used with cordless phones, paging devices, laptops or desktops, digital cameras, video cameras, etc. In addition, it should be understood that the system and method for providing group communication services is applicable to real-time data as well as audio and video data, as well as to time-independent data, such as computer files, email, and so on. Figure 1 is an illustration of a typical wireless communication system of the prior art 100 that does not have the ability to execute group communications, otherwise known as point-to-multipoint communications, or push-to-call communications. -talk. The CDs 102, 104, 106 represent t of a vast number of wireless telephones dispersed over a small geographical area that are served by a communication system 100. The CDs 102, 104, 106 transmit and receive communication signals. from the base stations 108, 110, generally depending on their proximity to each base station. In a typical wireless communication system, there are many base stations in use to support the vast number of active CDs in the communication system 100. The base stations 108 and 110 are connected to a Mobile Communication Center (MSC) 112. MSC 112 provides various functionalities to the wireless communication system, such as system control for the base stations 108 and 110. In addition, the MSC 112 provides the interface and switching circuitry between the base stations 108 and 110, and between the Network of Public Switched Telephony (PSTN) 114. In the communication system of Figure 1, multi-user conferencing in the wireless communication system can be achieved if special circuitry is used within MSC 112 to allow it to be performed these calls in conference. For example, the cordless telephone 116 has the ability to communicate video and / or audio with CDs 102 and 104 simultaneously of full duplex conference type.

The method of the system and method for providing group communication services is illustrated in the functional block diagram format of Figure 2. It shows a group communication system 200, which supports a press-to-call system. speak, a group transmission system, a dispatch system, a point-to-point communication system, or a video conferencing service. A characteristic that defines said communication system is that, generally, only the user transmits information to other Users at a specific time, in a semi-duplex mode. In a group communication system 200, a group of users of communication devices, known individually as group elements, communicate with each other with one another using a communication device assigned to each member of the group. In one embodiment, the group communication system 200 supports both conversation rooms as well as ad-hoc models for group communication services. In the conversation room model, groups are predefined, which can be stored in the communication manager. The predefined groups or networks can be public, implying that the group already has an open list of members. In this case, each group member is a potential participant in a group. Group communication begins when a first group member initiates a group communication. The communication remains running for a predetermined period, which can be configured by the service provider. During a group communication, group members can specifically join or leave the group. During periods of group inactivity, a group may enter an inactive group state until a member of that group requests permission to communicate media. When operating in the conversation group model, the group members, also known as members of the network, communicate with each other using a communication device assigned to each member of the group. The term "network" denotes a group of members authorized to communicate with each other. In the ad-hoc model of being V .1 C 1. O S G T group communication, groups can be defined in real time and have a closed list of members associated with each group. A closed list of members can specify which members have access and permission to participate in group communication. The list of members may not be available to other persons outside said closed list of members, and may only exist for the duration of this communication. Ad-hoc group definitions may not be stored in the communication manager. You can use the definitions to establish group communication and release them after the communication has ended. An ad-hoc group can be formed when a user selects one or more objective members and generates a group communication request, which is sent to the communication manager to initiate said communication. The communication manager can send a notification to the target group elements to indicate that they have been included in the group. The communication manager can automatically join the target members within the group, that is, no action would be required from the target members. When an ad-hoc group becomes inactive, the communication administrator can "undo" the group and release the resources assigned to the group including the group definition that is used to initiate group communication. The group members communicate with each other using an assigned communication device, such as communication devices (CD) 202, 204, 206, 208 and 210. In the present example, the CDs 202, 204 and 206 are cordless telephones, the CD 208 is a cordless phone equipped with the ability to press-to-talk, and CD 210 is a satellite phone also equipped with push-to-talk functionality. In other embodiments, the various CDs may comprise wireless camcorders, fixed cameras, audio devices such as recorders or music players, desktop or portable computers, or locator devices. In another embodiment, at least one CD comprises a combination of the modalities that have just been described. For example, CD 202 would comprise a wireless landline telephone equipped with a camera and video screen. In addition, each CD can have the ability to send and receive information either in a secure mode, or in an unsecured (transparent) mode. Through the following analysis, the reference to an individual CD could be expressed as a CD 202. However, it should be understood that the reference to CD 202 is not intended to limit the analysis to a single terrestrial wireless telephone. In general, the analyzes belonging to CD 202 will apply equally to other types of CDs as well. In the group communication system of Figure 2, an exclusive transmission privilege for a specific medium allows only one member of the group to transmit the specific means to other members of the group at a particular time. The transmission privilege for the specific media can be granted or denied to the members of requesting groups, depending on whether the transmission privilege for the specific medium is currently assigned or not to another member of the group when the request is received. The process of granting and denying transmission requests is known as arbitration. The arbitration can be for a single medium, when the members of the requesting group request the privilege of transmission for the same medium, for example, each member of the requesting group requests the video. Arbitration can also be jointly for more than one means of communication, when two members of the requesting group request transmission privileges for more than one of the media, for example each member of requesting groups requests both audio transmission privileges and Of video. Arbitration systems evaluate factors such as the priority levels assigned to each CD, the number of requests received from a user and the length of time in which the current or current user has had the privilege of exclusive communication to determine whether a member of applicant groups is granted the privilege of transmission or not. In order to participate in group communications, the CDs 202, 204, 206, 208 and 210 each are equipped with a means to request the privilege of transmission from a communications administrator (CM) 218, as explained in more detail to continuation. CM 218 administers the administrative and real-time operation of the groups, including PTT request arbitration, maintenance and distribution of group membership and registration lists, call set-up and system call drop necessary and network resources as well as general control of group status. The CM 218 can maintain a list of defined groups, defined as either transparent or secure, and transitions between transparent and secure are generally not allowed. A secure group is based on an encoding provided by the CDs to provide authentication and guard against computer listening. The encryption for secure groups can be executed based on end-to-end, meaning that the encoding and decoding is carried out within each CD. CM 218 can operate without knowledge of algorithm, codes, keys or security policies. CM 218 can be administered remotely either by a communication service provider, by group members, or both, assuming that authorization is provided by the service provider. E] CM 218 can receive group definitions through an external administration interface 226 or from any of the participating CDs. Group members can request administrative actions through their service provider or administrative group functions through defined systems, such as the member-managed security manager (SM) 228 that adapts to a management interface. The CM 218 can be authenticated to higher grade business standards for any party attempting to establish or modify a group. The SM 228 is an optional component of the system 200 that develops the key administration (i.e., the description of coding codes to group elements), user authentication, and related tasks to support secure groups. A communication system of a single group can interact with one or more SMs. The SM 228 can have management capabilities compatible with a CM 218 interface to automate management functions. The SM 218 may also have the ability to act as an endpoint of data for the purpose of participating in a group, to transmit group codes, or simply monitor group traffic. In one embodiment, the means for requesting the transmission privilege comprises a push-to-talk PTT key or switch. When a user in a communication system 200 wishes to transmit information, such as audio, video and / or data, to other members of the group, the push-to-talk switch located on his CD is released, sending a request to obtain the transmission privilege from the communication manager 218. If it is not currently assigned to another member of the group, the requesting user is granted the transmission privilege and is notified by audible, visual or tactile alert through of the CD After the transmission privilege has been or has been granted to the requesting user, then that user's means can be transmitted to other members of the group. In one embodiment of the system and method for providing group communication services, each member of the wireless group establishes a forward-reverse link with one or more base stations 216 or satellite gate 212, as the case may be. The above is used to describe a communication channel from a base station 216 or satellite gate 212 to a CD, where the latter is used to describe a communication channel from a CD to a base station 216 or gate 212. The voice , the video and / or the data are converted into data packets using a CD, the data packets are suitable for the particular data network 214 through which the communications to other users are carried out. In one modality, the data network is Internet. In another modality, a dedicated advance channel is established in each communication system (ie, a terrestrial communication system and a satellite communication system) to transmit information from each of the group's elements to other members of the same. Each member of the group receives communication from other group members about that dedicated channel. In yet another embodiment, a dedicated reverse link is established in each communication system to transmit information to the CM 218. Finally, a combination of the above schemes can be used, for example as establishing a dedicated forward transmission channel but requiring CDs wireless devices to transmit information to the CM 218 over an individual reverse link assigned to each CD. When a first member of the group wishes to transmit media to other members of the group, the first member of the group requests transmission privilege by pressing the push-to-talk button on his CD, which generates a formatted request for transmission over the data network 214. In the case of CDS 202, 204 and 206, the air request is transmitted to one or more base stations 216. The MSC 220 comprises a known Interwork Function (IWF) (not shown) for processing packets. of data, including the request, between the MC 220 and the data network 214. For the CD 210, the request is transmitted via satellite to the satellite gate 230. For the CD 208, the request is transmitted to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 222, then to the modem bank 224. The modem bank 224 receives the request and offers it to the data network 214. If no other member currently retains the transmission privilege. , when the CM 218 receives the transmission privilege request, said CM 218 transmits a message to the member of the requesting group, notifying him that the transmission privilege has been granted. The audio, visual and other information of the first member of the group can then be selectively transmitted to the other members of the group by sending the selected information to the CM 218, using one of the transmission paths that have just been described. In one modality, CM 218 then provides information to group members by selectively duplicating the information and selectively sending a duplicate to the group members. If only one transmission channel is used, only the information needs to be duplicated once for each transmission channel in use. In an alternative embodiment, the CM 218 is incorporated into the MSC 220 so that the data packets of the supporting base stations are routed directly to the CM 218 without being diverted over the data network 214. In this mode, the CM 218 is still connected to the data network 214 so that other communication systems and devices can participate in a group communication. In one modality, CM 218 maintains one or more databases to manage information pertaining to the individual members of the group as well as to each defined group. For example, for each member of the group, a database may comprise a user name, an account number, a telephone number, or a dialing number, associated with the group member's CD, a Mobile Identification Number. assigned to the CD, the status of the current member in the group, such as the group member is actively participating in that group or not and a priority code to determine how the transmission privilege is assigned, a data telephone number associated with the CD, an IP address associated with the CD, and an indication of the groups with which that member can communicate, and to which it is authorized. Other related types of information, such as if the CD has video and / or screen capability, can be stored by the database with respect to each member of the group. A group member may select the type of information, for example, audio, video, still image, and / or data, to which he or she wishes to be sent, or be received from, to other group members. The media selection can be based on the type of CD that the group member is using. For example, if the CD has video capability, the group member can send video to, or receive video from, CM 218, along with or in addition to the audio and / or data. The selection of media can also be based on whether the group member wishes to pay an extra cost associated with the use of the video capability of the CD. The group member may choose to send video or a series of still images at a reduced transmission speed, for example, a certain number of still images for a certain period, instead of only video. CM 218 can store information, such as information, audio, video, and / or data equipment, that each group member wishes to send or receive, as well as the type of CD that the group member is using. For example, if a member of the group has selected to receive video, or if the target CD has video capability, the CM 218 can send video, either alone or in addition to audio and / or data to the target CD. Otherwise, if a member of the target group has selected not to receive any type of video, or if the target CD does not have video capability, CM 218 may not send video or may send video-less communication to the target group member. The CM 218 can send still images to the target CD if the target CD has a target group member and / or screen and / or the target group member has requested to receive only still images, instead of just video.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The interfaces of the system are grouped into functional and physical interfaces. The physical interfaces are not unique to the group 200 communication system and consist of an existing wireless air interface, wireless service options, and commercial data network standards. The functional interfaces of higher layers, especially in the application layer, are unique for the group communication service. At the application level, the system and method for providing group communication services operates on three Internet-based protocols in one modality, as shown in Figure 3. Of course, other protocols, or a different number of protocols, are could use in this alternative. Communications between C 218 and CDs 202, 208 and 210 occur within these protocols. CDs can be found, joined, dropped and learned about several groups using a first protocol, such as the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which is a well-known signaling protocol that is used in the telecommunications industry. The second protocol, as shown in Figure 3 as the NBS Media Signage, can be used to manage group arbitration in real time and latency. The audio, voice, video and / or data (collectively referred to in the present invention as means), is distributed by a third protocol, which is shown in Figure 3 as media traffic. In the example of Figure 3, CD 202 currently has the floor, that is, the privilege of transmission or permission to transmit media to the group. A "floor-control" request is a request for the broadcast privilege. While CD 202 maintains the privilege of transmission, remnant group members are designated as listeners and correspondingly do not have permission to transmit media to the group. Generally, any means of signaling media or SIP signaling traffic can be sent at any time, regardless of whether or not it maintains the transmission privilege. In one embodiment, the CM 218 includes a modem bank 224, which interfaces to the PSTN 222. In another embodiment, the modem bank 224 is located separately from the CM 218. The interface of CDs to the CM 218 through this interface establishes an IP connection to the CM 218 using the well-known Punt o-a-Pun to (PPP) protocol, or optionally, any other equivalent link or link-layer protocol, running on one of the various modem protocols of Standard marking available. In one embodiment, CDs 202, 204 and 206 each provide a data packet connection to CM 2.18, in accordance with IS-707.5 which is the IP packet data service option. IS-707.5 is a well-known interim standard that describes data packet services in a CDMA communication system. Changes can be made to this interface to optimize the communication performance of the group. No changes are desired to the infrastructure portion of this interface, except the implicit requirement for RTP / UDP / IP Head Compression at the base stations to support media transmissions using RTP (Real Time Protocol). Alternatively, CDs 202, 204 and 206 could support most of the group communication activities using Fast Network Connection (QNC) and IS-707.4 as will be described later. The CM 218 communicates with the CDs by participating in group communications through communication, group and transport application layer protocols. These communications include application signaling (PTT transmission privilege requests, group registration, etc.) as well as real-time media packet streams distributed by CM 218. All real-time media are distributed inter-phase Dynamic RTP / UDP / IP in CM 218 and CDs. If CRTP head compression is not available (a well-known head compression technique), the real-time media is encapsulated directly within the UDP / IP packets or within the datagrams. All real-time signaling occurs through dynamic UDP / IP interfaces in CM 218 and CDs. Other signaling can be performed through a predefined data protocol interface, such as TCP / IP, between CM 218 and the CDs using the well-known Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), an application-level call signaling protocol designed to Support, for example, Internet telephony. CM 218 provides an external user interface to communicate with external users using the same communication and group communication application layer interfaces used to interact with CD 208, except that these protocols operate over IP / PPP and a modem connection of marking. CM 218 provides an administration interface that can be an application-level protocol that provides administrative access to a user, group, and CM administration database as well as associated parameters using the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) semantics. . In one mode, the interface operates over TCP / IP. There may also be a second network interface that supports administrative functions. This second administrative interface supports the bulk of real-time transfer of administrative information, including membership lists and network status reports, to customer administrative applications. The SM 228 communicates with CDs using a re-encoding protocol operating over TCP / IP.

One modality of the system and method to provide the communication services in group > or operates over standard IP interface data packet IP services, such as, for example, as defined in IS-707, and a conventional IP. A traffic channel is assigned for each registered CD while a group is active, that is, the means that are transmitted between the members. Each group is defined and identified by its name, which when combined with the address of a central system, defines a destination address that can be expressed in the form of a SIP URL. As previously mentioned, a SIP protocol (Session Initiation ProtocoJ.o) is a well-defined signaling protocol, which is used to control the configuration and control signaling between CDs and CM 218. Figure 4 illustrates the CD 202 such is used in a system modality and method to provide group communication services. Additional details of CD 202 may be found in the co-pending US patent application number 09 / 518,776, entitled "METHOD AMD APPARATUS FOR PARTICIPATORY IN A GROUP COMMUNICATION SERVICE IN AN EXISTING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM" (Method and Apparatus for Participation in a Service of Coraun i fall in Group in an Existing Communication System), filed on March 3, 2000, which is assigned to the same transferee and is incorporated by reference in the present invention. In this mode, CD 202 is a wireless telephone that has the ability to convert media, for example video and / or conversation, into data packets suitable for transmission over a data network 214, such as the Internet. It should be understood that many of the features embodied in CD 202, as shown in Figure 4, can also be implemented in any communication device, and CD 202 is not intended to be limited to a telephone. wireless as shown in Figure 4. The CD 202 typically comprises an antenna 400, a display 410, keys 420, a speaker 430, a hearing aid 440, and an optional push button switch -pa ra-hab 1 ar (PPP ) 450. You can use screen 410 to display video, still images or text. In a modality a]. The CD 202 can use one of the existing keys 420 as a push-talk switch when in a push-talk-to-talk mode instead of a handset. A dedicated push-to-talk switch 450 can be operated. The CD 202 can also be equipped to transmit and receive media by integrating it with any media roaming device such as a portable or stationary computer system, a generation system of position reports, a measurement reading system, a video camera or a fixed camera. The CD 202 can be interfaced to said media generation devices using an interface cable, which has one end of the interface cable connected to the processing or media device and the other end connected to a communication port (which is not shows on CD 202). Alternatively, the necessary internal components of the CD can be integrated into the media processing device to form a single unit suitable for transmitting and receiving media in an integrated package. In either case the CD 202 can be used to transmit media from the media generating device to one or more members of the group, or to one or more members that do not belong to the group, or to a combination of both.

CD 202 generally has the ability to communicate using one or more modes of operation or "service options". However, it should be understood that none of the modalities of the system and method for providing the communication services in a group is based on a communication device that has multiple modes of communication. A first service option is used to establish standard type audio calls from a CD 202 to a base station 216. The voice service mode is used to make typical Point-to-Point telephone calls using the determined technology of the radio system. associated communication. For example, the voice service option for CD 202 refers to point-to-point audio communications using IS-95A, a well-known CDMA telecommunications standard promulgated by the Telecommunications Industry Association. The voice service option for CD 208 refers to a standard point-to-point telephone call PSTN 222 to connect to another wired telephone or cordless telephone. A second service option is defined as a data service option, which can additionally be divided into at least three types of data service: packet data service, asynchronous data service, and synchronous data service. In a CDMA communication system, an asynchronous data service is described by means of IS-707.5 while a synchronous data service is described by means of IS-707.4. The various data service options are alternatively implemented using techniques applicable to several other types of communication systems, such as GSM systems. Any of this type of data service allows CD 202 to communicate with MSC 220 using data protocols, instead of transmitting information using the traditional voice service mode. As previously explained, the MSC 220 contains an IWF that routes data packets between CD 202 and CM 218. CD 202 contains circuitry that accepts information such as audio, video, and data and converts the information into data packets of according to the data network protocol as well as the well-known TCP / IP protocol. When used in the voice service mode, a group member uses keys 420 to enter data on CD 202, the data typically comprising an identification number, such as a telephone number, of a second communication device belonging to to a person with whom the user wants to communicate. Keys 420 are also used in conjunction with screen 410 to choose various communication options. For example, if a member wishes to enter the packet data to join a particular group, the keys 420 can be used to select one of the various possible groups using the menu of options that can be displayed from the screen 410. CD 202 maintains a list of known groups, in which CD 202 represents a set of known groups in which CD 202 can participate. Alternatively, CD 202 maintains a list of possible groups, whether CD 202 can participate or not. The list can be updated as necessary during interactions with C 218. The list maintained by CD 202 is analogous to a calendar feature, which is a list of names and dialing numbers that are typically stored on a telephone. standard wireless The group list can be integrated with the agenda function so that the act of selecting a group from the list of groups instructs CD 202 to try to join the selected group. Groups can be designated as either secure or as transparent groups. Spatial groups are groups that do not guarantee security of listening to the air, such as the coding feature, while secure groups have provisions to provide coding. The safe groups will be described below in the present invention. In order to participate in a specific group, CD 202 initially requests that CM 218 add CD 202 to a group participant list connected to the desired group. The term "connected" means those users who have registered with CM 218 and who at least are receiving communications that occur within a group. Therefore, CD 202 will initially know or have the ability to learn the group's direction from any groups in which you wish to participate. In addition, CD 202 will initially know or have the ability to be configured with the address of a higher level server to which requests or SIP requests can be sent. In a modality, CD 202 is pre-programmed with the address of a known or predetermined top-level SIP server that provides a current list of groups in which CD 202 is authorized to participate. Alternatively, the CD 202 may be pre-programmed with a group list, which defines at least one group address in which CD 202 is a member. CD 202 can then send a request to the top-level SIP server to update its list of groups. In another alternative mode the CD 202 does not contain previously programmed SIP addresses or group list information. In this mode the user is provided with a higher level SIP server and group address to interactively enter this information into CD 202 using the 420 keys. The user can also enter additional group addresses, not a group list, which has already been previously programmed with some entries. This mode is analogous to enter personal names and dialing numbers in a conventional wireless phone book. In one embodiment, CD 202 is pre-programmed with the IP network address of a Domain Name Service (DNS) server, to which CD 202 can send DNS requests. Typically, the address of a DNS server operated by a CDMA cellular operator will be previously programmed. CD 202 can also be pre-programmed with the network address from an alternative DNS server. To support authentication, the Cü 202 can use security measures, such as the "Pretty Good Privacy (PGP))". CD 202 is programmed with a unique PGP user secret and identification code, which can be used to signal SIP transactions when requested by CM 218. The PGP user ID can also be used as a user address for CD 202 for generic transactions, such as INVITE messages ("INVITE").

To find and gather groups CD 202 can join or leave groups using the call signaling defined by the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), for example. Each CD 202 is supplied with a list of groups - addresses, and one or more higher level SIP server addresses. If the group-list is empty, the user can interactively specify the address of an existing group. If no higher level SIP server has been defined, the user can interactively specify the address of a higher level SIP server. Once the address of the higher level SIP server is known, CD 202 can request an updated list of available groups and placing a call using the "INVITE" SIP command to a predefined SIP destination. The top-level SIP server can redirect the request to an internal destination or answer it directly. The INVITE response to this call includes the current list of groups available for CD 202. CD 202 uses this list to update its internal group-list. After a group has been selected, CD 202 attempts to join the group through the INVITE SIP method by specifying the group-address as the invitation destination and sending the request to the top-level SIP server. The top-level server attempts to map the group-address to a known destination, and if successful, it again divides the CD 202 to the destination of the corresponding SIP agent-user server associated with the multi-point control unit currently assigned to the group. (MCU), which is a portion of CM 218 responsible for managing group traffic. If there is no mapping available, the invitation fails. Normally, the destination SIP agent-user server confirms that CD 202 is authorized to participate in the selected group and responds to the invitation, including a description of media traffic and the signaling parameters to be used, to participate in the group in the content of this response. CM 218 can also respond with an error if it does not have the ability to confirm that CD 202 is a legitimate member of the group or if another error condition arises, such as a failure, that could harm the operation of the normal group. If the invitation is accepted, CD 202 recognizes the response through the SIP command "ACK". It should be noted that CD 202 may also receive other transient response codes, which indicate the progress of the call, while it is processing the invitation. CD 202 updates your group-list to the set of groups in which you can participate. The user can instruct CD 202 requesting C 218, even if it has not been selected, for the purpose of receiving updates to his group list. If CD 202 determines that it has been added or removed from a group, it will briefly display an appropriate message to the user (for example: "Added to the ELDERS group") and / or possibly send the message for user interaction. If CD 202 determines that it is not a member of any group, it will similarly inform the user. CD 202 can automatically add new group addresses to your group list but you can send a message to the user telling you before deleting the addresses of groups in which you have lost membership of that group list. The response of the CM 218 SIP server to an INVITE request to join a group includes, as integrated content, the group's media, as well as the real-time media signaling destination addresses, as well as other group parameters (such as media payload format descriptors). -Once confirmed, CD 202 briefly displays a feedback to the user, and indicates that the user has listening privileges only, and allows group service functions. If CM 218 determines that CD 202 is not a selected group member, or an error or other exceptional condition occurs, the CM 218 responds with a corresponding error response. When that record is rejected, CD 202 briefly displays a corresponding error message, and the group service functions remain inactive.

Group media communications Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the various media communication modes, according to one of the modalities. Of course other configurations are possible. It should be understood that the modes shown in Figure 5 are applicable to any type of CD. The CD 202, 204, 206, 208 and 210 can be members of a predefined group (conversation group) or a group defined in real time (ad-hoc). The CD 202, which has the word for audio communication, transforms the audio signals into packet data and sends them to the C 218, in a semi-duplex communication manner on the reverse traffic channel, for example. The CM 218 receives the audio information from CD 202, and sends the received audio information to the target CDs, as defined by the set group. For example, the CM 218 sends the audio to the CDs 204, 206, 208 and 210, in a semi-duplex communication manner over the forward traffic channels. CD 206, which has the word for independent video communication of the word in audio, transforms the video signals into packets and sends them to the CM 218, in a semi-duplex communication manner over the reverse traffic channel, through example. The CM 218, receives the video information from CD 206, and selectively sends the received video information to the target CDs, as defined by the established group, in a semi-duplex communication manner on the forward traffic channels. . For example, CM 218 sends the received video to CDs 202 and 204, which have the video capability and their respective users who have selected the video that is received. CM 218 does not send video to CD 208 and 210, which does not have any video capability or its users have selected to receive any video. CM 218 sends one or more still images to CD 210, which may have only one screen or otherwise the user has selected to receive still images, instead of total video, to save the cost of receiving the full video. The still images can be pre-stored images or captured from the video in real time that is being communicated to the whole group. Conveniently, the user having the audio word can interact with the user who has the video word, for example, giving instructions on how to operate, signal and / or broadcast video. When a user is simultaneously receiving videos and sending audio through the same CD, each medium is transmitted in a semi-duplex mode, for example, the CD receives the video on a forward link, but sends audio on the reverse link. However, when a user is simultaneously receiving or transmitting video as audio through the same CD, both video and audio are transmitted semi-duplex on the same link, for example, the CD receives both audio and video on a link in advance or the CD transmits both audio and video in a reverse link.

Clear data burst call signaling messages In a modality, a significant reduction in PTT latency can be achieved through the use of short data burst message (SDB), as provided in the "TIA /" standards. EIA / 1S-2000 Standards for cdma2000 Spread Spectrum Systems ", (" Standards T IA / IA / 1 S - 2000 for Broadband systems cdma2000") which is referred to hereinafter as" the cdma2000 standard. "In one embodiment, SDB messages can be sent over an active channel, such as the fundamental forward channel (FCH) or a control channel common dedicated forward (F-DCCH) SDB messages can also be sent over a common active channel, such as the reverse access channel (F-ACH), the reverse enhanced access channel (R-EACH), the channel of common forward control (F-CCCH), or localization message sending channel (PCH). SDB messages can be transported by means of the radio burst protocol (RBP), which spreads messages over a channel Active layer available and appropriate, because SDB messages can carry arbitrary IP traffic and can be sent over common active channels, SDB messages provide a mechanism for exchanging group call signaling when participating CDs do not have a dedicated traffic channel available. In one modality, the same CD has both the word in audio and in video. In one modality, there is only one word in audio and / or video. For example, there may be multiple videos, covering more than the conference rooms, and / or multiple types of audio, covering background music and background music, stereo sound, or ambient sounds.

Interaction with point-to-point services CD 202 allows the originating user to receive conventional PSTN point-to-point calls as well as participate in group communications. CD 202 supports at least one group communication application and one or more point-to-point applications. Therefore, one modality of the system and method for providing group communication services allows unrestricted reception and placement of point-to-point media communications while group services are allowed and activated. CD 202 can be used to establish point-to-point media communication services or ensure point-to-point media communication at any time, regardless of whether group services are active or not, as long as the CD 202 is not acting simultaneously on both. If CD 202 has been registered as a member of a group, CD 202 can unregister from the group when a point-to-point media communication is established. Once the point-to-point media communication has been completed, CD-202 can be transparently re-registered as a member of the current selected group. The CD 202 can be used to receive PSTN communication or secure point-to-point media communication, while group-services (or group services) are allowed, within the limitations imposed by the particular cellular infrastructure of the air interface. CD 202 has joined a group, and the selected group is active, CD 202 appears busy before an incoming PSTN call, and the call is given the appropriate treatment of tone occupied by the cellular infrastructure of the air interface. If the selected group is silent, but the hanging time of the group has not expired, this call will also be given the normal tone treatment occupied by the cellular infrastructure of the air interface. However, if the hanging time of the selected group has expired, and the group has been placed in an idle mode, and CD 202 has released its resources to the air, the call will not receive the tone treatment occupied by the infrastructure and CD 202 can receive the location message to initiate reception of the incoming call. A user can configure CD 202 option to disable the reception of incoming calls from point to point, while a group is selected, and CD 202 is registered by a member. Communications Manager Figure 6 illustrates a functional block diagram of CM 218 according to a modality. Additional details of CM 218 can be found in the co-pending US patent application number number 09 / 518,622, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING GROUP COM UNI CAT ION SERVICES IN AN EXISTING COM UN I CAT I ON SYSTEM" ("METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALLOWING GROUP COMMUNICATION SERVICES IN AN EXISTING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM "), filed on March 3, 2000, which is assigned to the same assignee, and is incorporated by reference in the present invention. The CM 218 supports at least three external logical interfaces, which, in one mode, are all based on IP, and can have multiple instances that operate simultaneously. The SIP 600 user agent server provides a SIP interface. Real-time signaling and media control is supported by one or more media control units (MCU) 602. The administration functions are supported by a combination of CLI and HTTP servers, which are shown in Figure 6 as a administration interface 604. Internally, MCUs 602 can be managed by the control function, which hands an MCU 602 to groups and SIP invitations to MCUs. The local memory 606 stores information related to the individual group members (referred to in the present invention as the user database) and information related to various groups (hereinafter referred to) as a database of group. The external access to the local memory 606 is controlled through the administrative interface 604. No assumption is made as to whether C 218 is implemented as a single physical entity, or various entities connected through a high-speed internal communication path. For example, it could be considered necessary to dedicate to a special-purpose hardware to handle the real-time switching loads to use a physically separate database machine to centralize local memory 606. Similarly, the top-level SIP redirects the server 610 and the global database 612 may be separated from the administrative functions and implemented as a separate entity. The top-level SIP redirection server 610 as the ISP 600 user-agent server associated with the CUs requires access to the user and group information defined in the system. Specifically, the top-level ISP redirection server 610 can either receive a global 612 request database or be given explicit ISP registrations so that they can redirect incoming INVITE requests to an appropriate destination corresponding (in most cases, the user-agent server 600). Similarly, the ISP 600 user agent server requires access to the local memory 606 to authenticate users, confirm user access to the groups, and define the descriptions of the group session. The local memory 606 receives the user and group information from the global database 612 as an MCU is assigned to a group by means of the redirection server 610. After the information has been provided to the local memory 606 , it can be provided to the administrative interface 604 to the server to user agent 600, and / or to the MCU control 608 based on a requirement as necessary. The MCU control 602 monitors the operation of the individual MCUs, such as control boot and / or shutdown, allocating a group to the MCU 602, and sharing the state of the information between the local memory 606 and the various CDs and / or administrative interface to 604. The MCU 602 is typically a digital signal processing device that has the ability to execute program instructions stored in a memory, such as a ROM. The MCU 602 is responsible for receiving the incoming data packets from a transmission CD and for sending duplicate copies of the received data packets to other members of groups to which the transmission CD belongs. As each data packet is received by MCU 602, it is stored in a memory (not shown). The transmission CD can be identified by interrogating the data packet. In one embodiment, an IP address representing the transmission CD is included in each data packet as a way to develop the identification. After the transmission CD has been identified, the MCU control 608 retrieves a list of group members belonging to the group associated with the particular MCU 602 of the local memory 606. (Each MCU is assigned only one group). A destination address is associated with each active group member, i.e. members of groups that are currently registered with MCU 602, in local memory 606. In one embodiment, the destination address is a 1P address. The MCU control 608 then creates a duplicate of the original data packet, except that the destination address identified within the data packet is modified to reflect the destination address of the first member of the group. Next, the MCU control 608 creates a second duplicate data packet, which is dissected to the second member of the group. This process continues until the original data packet has been duplicated, and selectively it is sent to the members of the active group identified in local memory 606.PSTN User Interface As stated above, CD 202 comprises a wireless telephone in one mode. However, because many of the system modalities and methods for offering group communication services use IP transport protocols, any platform with IP capability and with connectivity to CM 218, can potentially serve as a CD. Therefore, dial-up users (that is, a user who operates a device that communicates primarily through the PSTN) can be connected to CM 218 through existing IP-1 servers. Internet Service Providers (ISP) A terminal-server IT acts as a bridge between the PSTN local area (LAN) IP support. It consists of a modem bank, which provides the connection point for PSTN modems, a server, and a further network interface. The server has the ability to centralize multiple independent PPP sections, one for each connected modem user. The server also acts as a router, routing IP packets between each of the individual PPP interfaces and any active LAN interfaces. in one mode, an IP server-terminal is used in one of them, and in the other mode an external IP-terminal server is used. Both types of server will be easily available once a day. The dial terminal server supports the ability to negotiate a CTP Head Compression over a PPP session. Similarly, the PPP stack used by a dial-up client should also try to use CRTP. However, due to the additional bandwidth available in high-speed modems, the inability for a dial-based user to negotiate a CRTP header compression may not necessarily force a group to avoid using load specifications based on RTP. If the 1-seri ry command is located in a cellular service or in an internal LAN network of the cellular service provider, and therefore is located near, in a network topology sense, CM 218 the provider of In this service, dial-up users can avoid quality of service oaws that can contribute a high latency of ex-t-rem and e-txt if the path between the ISP end-server and CM 218 traverses a portion of the Internet. PSTN-based group participants follow similar procedures for IP records as outlined for wireless users, similarly set groups, adhere to a similar media signaling protocol, encapsulate packets within RTP or UDP based on the description of the group session and according to the loading specifications described above. Because PSTN-based modems generally do not support a concept of latency similar to that described above, dial-based group participants generally ignore any idle messages received from CM 218.

Management Interface _ CM- Group Management In a system mode and method for providing group communication services, the CM 218 includes a separate management interface 604 through which the CM 218 can be administered and the status of real time. whose reports are related to the operation of C. Other variations are also possible. The 604 administration interface consists of two network ports, a TCP / IP-based hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), an interface that supports administrative access through a Web browser, and a Command Line Interface ( CLI) specifies group communication based on TCP / IP. Administrative functions are supported through a CLI based on TCP / IP. Before being granted access to CLI, a potential administrator connecting to CM 218 from CLI will be testified, using familiar techniques. CLI has the ability to be connected in a well-known fixed TCP port address, and has the ability to simultaneously handle multiple CLI sessions. CLI has the ability to support various administrative functions, such as creating a new user record in a user database, deleting an existing user record, and modifying an existing user record. Other functionality may include the ability to create new groups in the user database, delete existing groups, and modify existing groups. Still, other functions may include the ability for an administrator to list all users by user name, dial number, user identifier, as well as other criteria, the ability to list all groups, either by group-address and by group identifier, the ability of an administrator to demonstrate all the fields for a specific user record, and the ability of the. administrator show all fields for a specific group identified by the group identifier or group address of that group. In addition, the CLI can include the ability of an administrator to interrogate the static status report for a specific group or individual group member. This function can also allow the administrator to request for real-time (updated) reports and in particular, allow the administrator to identify the current list of group participants, the current speaker, the presence or absence of media traffic, and identify any messages Means signaling, sent or received by CM 218. In one mode, CM 218 makes the available functions available to a generic Web browser through an HTTP Web server interface with one or more pages formatted using the Language syntax. of Hypertext Marking (HTML). At least one of the administrative pages may include a reference to an integrated Java program. The CM 218 manages and is also the center or focus for all the administrative functions that belong to the group administration, including the creation and deletion of groups; defining new users and deleting existing users; adding or removing users as group members; and adjusting various operating parameters to a user, group or base-width CM. When delivering this service to a cell phone or other service provider, CM 218 uses the basic administrative configuration before it can be used to support group communication activities. The initial configuration required involves a basic system configuration; assigning passwords to operate the system level accounts for system administration at the root level and configuring CM 218 and its network interfaces for the appropriate operation in a local wireless infrastructure network. Once CM 218 is configured, general group management can be carried out. In one mode, the group management functions are carried out through HTML or another network interface built over TCP / IP. Administrators interact with CM 218 using a conventional World Wide Web Browser (WWW). The administration can be executed locally or remotely (anywhere on the Internet, or via dialing). In one mode, however, the underlying transport path for administrative access is TCP / IP. Multiple simultaneous management connections (for example, two or more) are allowed. When connecting to CM 218 for the purpose of group administration, the administrator will generally authenticate himself to ensure that only authorized administrative actions are accepted. For example, different levels of access are accepted, different authorized group members can connect directly to CM 218's administrative interface to modify the specific group membership lists, but more generic administrative privileges are reserved for administrative accounts. specific. For greater clarity, administrative actions are separated into those that deal specifically with user definitions and those that define groups. A user definition may include a user name, a unique cellular system identifier, CD, a CD telephone number, and a user's email address. CM 218 will also define internally a unique user identifier, which can be passed to CD 202 and used to uniquely identify the user in signaling messages. A group definition can include a group address, group hang time, private dispatch time limit, and member list. A list of group members consists of a registration list of members that individually contain a user name and a priority level. A member with the lowest priority level generally has listening privileges only. C administrators can monitor the current status of groups for which they have administrative privileges. In particular, administrators can determine the current list of group participants, as well as monitor group status (active, inactive, dormant, active, etc.). Each time a group is active, the administrator can also monitor the group status. Identity of the person speaking in progress. Additional statistics and status, such as the length of the current session, the total talk time of an individual user or group, the last particular group moment held or maintained the transmission privilege, the average number of registrants, etc. , it may also be available to administrators through administrative interface 604. CD 202 can also support the concept of a "private call" a semi-duplex point-to-point call, requested by the caller, by pressing the push-to-talk button, which is accepted without ringing the target CDs, such as occurs in a traditional full-duplex point-to-point call.

Network Protocols The operation of a system modality and method to provide communication services can be described and defined in two levels, which generally operate independently of each other. The lower level, comprising a network, a link, a physical and transport stage, is described in the present invention. The upper level, which comprises group communication and protocols related to the level of application, are described later in this invention. One mode of the system and method for providing group communication services operates over the standard Internet and related protocol stacks, such as that provided by the Package Data Service Option IS-707.5 in a CDMA communication system. Of course, other modalities could alternatively use a data service applicable to the particular type of communication system to be used, such as a GSM communication system. Various modalities of the system and method for providing group communication services may also operate on V.3bis, V.90 standards, or PSTN or similar modem standards, or they may be used entirely within the public Internet, regardless of any segments IS-707.5. Most group communication network traffic can be described as both signaling and media traffic. The signaling traffic can then be differentiated into two different categories, the call configuration and the control signaling. Consisting primarily of requests and acknowledgments of IP invitations and media signage, which comprises requests mainly for word control in real time, and related asynchronous messages. Media traffic comprises real-time point-to-point voice or data transmissions.

Signaling Protocols The establishment of group communication call and call control signaling can be developed with a well-known Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) although it can be used as an alternative to any signaling protocol. Although SIP can be transported either the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) or the TCP transmission control protocol, CD 202 develops all the ISP-based signaling functions that use UDP in a modality, and CM 218 expects to receive all the requests for SIP signaling via UDP. In one embodiment, CM 218 implements both a SIP user-agent server as well as a SIP redirection server. To support group communications, CD 212 implements a SIP client-agent-user. CM 218 operates by listening for incoming SIP connections on a publicized port, in a mode, on a UDP port 5060. When a connection is running, the SIP server receives and processes requests according to the call conventions - signaling in parallel. To conserve network resources, CD 202 can release its UD connection with the SIP idor after it has successfully (or unsuccessfully) joined a group. The UDP connection can be reset later to send additional SIP call signaling requests (for example, to leave a group or to switch to another group). Because UDP provides application level reliability guarantees, unreliable offline transport, it is necessary to ensure application level guarantees for robust communication. These guarantees are implemented by the final connection points that comply with SIP, that is, the CDs in the communication system 200. The UDP signaling SIP streams are encapsulated within a data network protocol, such as I. No special formatting is required. The SIP call signaling IP packets exchanged between a CD with wireless base or a CD 208 based on PSTN dialing CD 208 are encapsulated within PPP. Again, no special formatting is required. In a modality, the SIP call signaling PPP frames exchanged between a cell-based CD 212 and a base station 216 are encapsulated within the LP radio link protocol, a well-known wireless protocol for transmitting data to the air. For dial-up PSTN-based CDs, an appropriate modera standard, such as V.3bis or V.90, replaces RLP. In no case, a special treatment is needed and a physical connection free of error is not required. In one modality, group media signaling, as well as voice and data traffic, are transported using UDP / IP datagrams. When CRTP header compression is available, media traffic can be additionally encapsulated using RTP at the application layer and spindle compression techniques are applied, as appropriate for incoming and outgoing UDP / IP UDP / traffic. IP. The requests and responses of the media signaling are encapsulated within the UDP datagrams. When available, CRTP header compression can be applied to reduce the impact of uncompressed UDP / IP headers. Each CD dynamically selects a UDP port in which it attempts to listen to requests for group media signaling and communicates the CM 218 port number as part of the SIP invitation it presents when trying to join a group. A group CM signaling destination address (including the number of UDP ports) is described in the group session description presented as part of a successful response to a SIP INIVITE request. Unlike the SIP signaling addresses, the media signaling destination addresses are group specific and can switch between CD 202 instances by joining a group. In one embodiment, multiple groups centralized by the same CM operate independently and do not share the ports of media traffic or media signaling.

Media Traffic The media traffic of 202 is encapsulated by grouping one or more tables of os representing the media information within a RTP / UDP or UDP load. In one modality, the data tables comprise frames generated by a vocodi fi cate r within CD 202. The use of RTP with CRTP is recommended to minimize the end-to-end media and provide interoperability with future IP telephony applications and services. In any case, CD 202 dynamically selects the UDP port on which it expects to receive media traffic and communicates the port number to CM 218 as part of the SIP invitation it presents when attempting to join a group. CM 218 describes the transport encapsulation protocol and the vocodi fi er: of the group, as well as its destination address of media traffic (including the UDP port number), in the assignment description response to a SIP invitation request. successful Like the group media signaling addresses, the media traffic destination addresses are group specific and can change between cases of CD 202 joining a group. Media traffic is encapsulated on CD 202 using RTP, which segments each UDP datagram into a spindle and RTP load. Media traffic can optionally be encapsulated and using only UDP, without RTP encapsulation, typically when the CRTP header compression is not available or is not supported by a group member. The structure of the UDP load follows the definition given for a corresponding RTP load, without the fields of the RTP header. The decision to encapsulate the media directly in UDP is usually configured by the group administrator and is announced or warned by the group session announcement. In addition to video and / or audio, groups can also support arbitrary data transmissions, such as a secure group claim, email, data files, etc. If a group supports a data transmission channel, CM 218 will warn the type of media in the description of group IP sessions when CD 202 formally joins the group. Like traditional media transmissions, generic data transmissions operate over RLP in one modality (or in a corresponding phasic layer). In one embodiment, CD 202 includes the ability to resolve Internet domain names in Internet addresses using the Domain Name Service (DNS) protocol, DNS domain name service protocol as defined in RFC 1035. Alternatively, , CD 202 operates only as a DNS client or resolver, as described in RFC 1035. In order for CD 202 to resolve the central DNS names, CD 202 is pre-programmed with the IP network address of a server. DNS. The DNS address must also be configurable by CD 202 by your service provider, and optionally by the user. CM 218 can be optionally configured to act as a DNS server, as described in RFC 1035. Although it can respond to DNS requests from foreign entities using TCP as a transport protocol, CM 218 also encapsulates DNS messages using UDP .

Extension to Cana 1 Multi-transmission Cellular The various modalities of the system and method for providing communication services in groups have been designed so that the development of a cellular channel can be developed, if it is available. Said channel generally allows a transmission station to address multiple listening stations, or CDs directly, without the need for multiple retransmissions of the transmitted data. To take advantage of the efficiencies offered by a multi-cellular transmission channel, a group media signaling and traffic destination addresses would be converted into conventional IP routing channels, and all transmissions traffic and signaling of media originated CM would become transmissions of multi- ransmis ión. Media signage originating from CDs, traffic transmissions and SIP signaling would likely remain as point-to-point communication.

Infrastructure Support When operating on a cellular infrastructure of CD A, a modality of the system and method to provide communication services in group, requires the existence of data services, such 7 O as the option of Package Data Service outlined in IS-707.5 for the transport of signage and media traffic. In addition, one modality of the system and method for providing group communication services makes use of a latent mode to allow point-to-point voice services calls, to be received during extended periods of group transmission inactivity. If the Package Data Service Option IS-707.5 is not available, another mode allows its impl ementation, using a service known as Fast Network Connection (QNC) and IS-707.4. QNC provides a protocol stack identical to the one provided by IS-707.5. CD 202 can be configured to negotiate a packet connection using QNC instead of IS-707.5, and if the QNC service is available, treat the connection as a packet data service connection.

Dynamic IP (Registration) In a modality, CD 202 has the ability to detect the fact that its IP network address has changed or is about to change. If CD 202 is participating in a group when the address change occurs, CD 202 joins the group again by invoking the SIP INVITE command, as described below. The IP network address of CD 202 may change for at least two reasons. A CD roaming service can switch cellular systems or cellular networks, and would be required to negotiate a new IP address. Or, CD 202 may experience a service interruption or pull the Data Service Option call for any reason, and upon resetting the service, a new IP network address may be assigned to it. If CD 202 is participating in a group during a change of address, and does not re-join the selected group in a timely manner, C 218 will eventually expire its membership and remove CD 202 from the list or delete it, for the selected group. CD 202 is removed from the list of active group participants and eventually does not respond to the series of media signaling request messages.

IP Mobility Support RFC 2002 describes an IETF standards registration protocol, commonly known as mobile IP, that allows transparent routing of IP datagrams to mobile Internet nodes. One modality of the system and method for providing group communication services allows transparent operation over mobile IP, almost without modifications or few modifications to the application or its associated protocol stacks. Like SIP, mobile IP includes a registration mechanism to locate mobile exchanges within the network. Unlike SIP, the mobile IP registration mechanism operates at the network layer and is necessarily directly linked to the IP-level addressing schemes. The SIP registration occurs at the application layer and is defined independently of the network level addressing details. According to mobile IP, a mobile exchange (i.e., CD 202) is connected to the network by a foreign agent, which assigns CD 202 a "care to" address. The address of ate is a temporary but legal address to which IP datagrams can be routed from any point on the Internet. CD 202 uses the care-to address to contact your local agent and inform you of your current CD 202 care address. After confirming the identification of CD 202, the local agent tunes the dissected packages to the permanent local address CD 202 ( whose normal internet routing mechanisms) will be supported in the local agent directly or in the local agent network to CD 202 using the CD 202 address of care. Although in one embodiment, the system and method for providing communication services in group can operate over mobile IP, Mobile IP can adversely impact the end-to-end latency and perceive the voice quality of media traffic and signaling if CD 202 joins a group using its permanent address and the local agent is located far away, in a sense of network topology, CM 218 and CD 202. In such a case, it might be necessary to route media traffic over the public Internet or other quality service networks, which may not have been required if mobile IP was not used. To avoid this, in most cases, it is preferable for CD 202 to have access to the group transmission services using their care address and gathering groups when their care address changes.

Group Communication Systems Multiple The above description assumes that in at least one modality, the system and method for providing group communication systems is deployed as an isolated service, with a CM 218 operating completely and independently within a specific geographic region or service area. However, it should be understood that at least one modality of the system and method for providing group communication services also has the ability to extend the group communication services beyond the local geographic area. This is achieved by deploying CMs in multiple communication networks, including GSM cellular networks, T DMA and C DMA, in satellite communication systems, such as Globalstar ™ and Iridium ™, and as well as corporate intragroups that use local area networks or wide area networks. The communication between the CMs of different systems is carried out using SIP server redirections, the exchange of the user database and the group database records and additional messages between CMs to facilitate an integral NBS service. In an integrated group communication service, it would be preferable to allow the entry of any CM to take ownership of a group, and therefore, not strictly join the operation of a group to a specific CM 218 or MCU 602. The choice of CM could be determined dynamically in its place, based on the proximity to the majority of group participants determined using the available position location techniques), the quality of service available in an inter-system network of the provider , and in other factors. Similarly, any CM SIP redirect server would have the ability to redirect any CD to the SIP user-agent server of the MCU, and / or if necessary, forward CDs to other SIP redirect servers. In an integrated system, an address of a group has meaning throughout the group communication system. As a result, one or more top-level SIP servers are responsible for redirecting I VITE requests and redistributing group participants to MCUs. These top-level SIP servers should share a common user and a common group database, providing identical functionality and redirection decisions at different network meeting points. As a result, the redirection of invitations originated by CD provides an important and critical layer of abstraction that allows multiple CM installations, to be integrated into a single homogeneous group communication service. In Figure 7, an integrated group communication system is shown. In this example, CM 700 supports a terrestrial cellular communication network and CM 702 supports a satellite communication network. In an integrated group communication service, the system scales by duplicating the functionality provided by the controller 612 of the MCU, its associated set of MCU 602, known as an MCU cluster 704, and the associated SIP 600 user-agent server. A single b of data 706 and a single administration interface 708 are shared by the multiple CMs in the system. The communication between the functional entities is not shown. The process by which a CD joins a group in such an integrated system is similar to that used in a system comprising a single CM installation. CD 202 initially sends SIP requests to the top-level (now global) SIP redirection server 710. The SIP 710 redirect server redirects, by means of signaling mechanisms such as SIP, the requesting CD to the appropriate destination. In case of an INVITE request to join a group, the destination is the SIP 600 user-agent server associated with the CU with the current responsibility for the group in question. In case of INVITE requesting a current list of groups available for CD 202, the destination can be generally any user-agent that has the capacity to respond to said request. Independently, the redirection server 710 can exchange additional messages with the MCU cluster 704 by sending inter-application messages using known implementation specific protocols and / or message sending conventions. As in the non-integrated case, a special start or start action is necessary to ensure that the redirecting address 710 can determine a destination for the INVITE requests it receives. A possible implementation would require SIP logs to exist in a redirect server 710. It is also possible to require the redirect server 710 to request the global database 706 and attempt to map each request for invitation to a contained group definition. in the same. The above description of the various modalities is established to allow any person skilled in the art to make use of the system and method to provide group communication services. The various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined in the same invention may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the inventive faculty. Therefore, the system and method for providing group communication services is not intended to be limited to the modalities shown in the present invention, but should be agreed with the broad scope consistent with the principles and novel features and functions. described in the present. Those skilled in the art understood that information and signals can be represented using any vari, age of different technologies and protocols. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols and integrated circuits that can be referenced through the above description can be represented by means of voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, fields or magnetic particles, optical fields of particles, or any combination thereof. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the various pictorial logic blocks, modules, circuits and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments described in the present invention can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software or combinations of both. . To clearly illustrate this hardware and software exchange capability, several illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits and steps have generally been described, in terms of functionality. Whether that functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends on the particular application and the design restrictions imposed on the overall system. Those skilled in the art may imply the functionality described in variant forms for each particular application, but such implicit decisions should not be construed as outside the scope of the present invention. The various illustrative blocks, modules and logic circuits described in connection with the embodiments described in the present invention can be implemented or developed with a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit ( ASIC), a programmable field bridge (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete bridge or gate, logical transistors or discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described in the present invention. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, but as an alternative, the processor can be any conventional processor, controller, micro-controller or state machine, a processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors together with a DSP core, or any other particular configuration. The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments described in the present invention can be implemented directly in a hardware or in a software module executed by a processor as in a combination of both. A software module can reside in a RAM memory, in a flash memory, in a ROM memory, an EPROM memory, an EEPROM memory, in registers, in a hard disk, in a removable disk, in a CD-ROM, or in any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium should be coupled to the processor, such that the processor can read the information from the medium, and write information to said soul media. As an alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and storage medium can reside in an ASIC. The ASIC can reside in a user terminal. Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal. The description of the embodiments described is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make use of the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined in the present invention may be applied to other modalities, for example in an instant message sending service or any wireless data communication applications. general, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown therein, but the broadest scope consistent with the non-evasive principles and functions described in the present invention should be agreed upon. The word "exemplary" is used exclusively in the present invention to mean "serve as an example, case or illustration."

Claims (36)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following is claimed as a priority: CLAIMS

1. - A method in a communication manager for communicating multimedia between a plurality of communication devices (CDs) operating in group communication networks, wherein the method comprises: reception of primary means; reception of secondary media; and selective broadcasting of the primary media, the secondary media, or both, for at least one of the plurality of CDs.

2. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said primary means include video and said secondary means include audio.

3. - The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of communication devices comprising a video camera and a fixed camera.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said selective diffusion includes selective diffusion based on requests received from the plurality of objective communication devices.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the selective diffusion includes selective diffusion based on plurality types of objective communication devices.

6. - The method according to claim 2, characterized in that said selective diffusion includes selective broadcasting of video at a reduced rate.

7. - The method according to claim 2, characterized in that said selective diffusion includes selective diffusion of fixed images.

8. - A computer readable medium that incorporates a method of multimedia communication between a plurality of communication devices (CDs) operating in a group communication network, wherein the method comprises: the reception of primary media; reception of secondary media; and selective diffusion of primary media, secondary media, or both, to at least one of the plurality of CDs.

9. - The computer readable medium according to claim 8, characterized in that said primary means includes video and said secondary means include audio.

10. - The computer readable medium according to claim 8, characterized in that said plurality of communication devices comprises a video camera and a fixed camera.

11. - The computer readable medium according to claim 8, characterized in that said selective diffusion includes selective diffusion based on requests received from the plurality of communication devices ob j e t i vo s.

12. - The computer readable medium according to claim 8, characterized in that said selective diffusion includes selective diffusion based on plurality types of objective communication devices.

13. - The computer readable medium according to claim 9, characterized in that said selective diffusion includes selective broadcasting of video at a reduced rate.

14. - The computer readable medium according to claim 9, characterized in that said selective diffusion includes selective diffusion of fixed image.

15. - An apparatus for communicating multimedia between a plurality of communication devices (CDs) operating in group communication networks, comprising: means for receiving primary means; means for receiving secondary means; and means for selective diffusion of primary media, secondary media, or both, to at least one of the plurality of CDs.

16. - The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that said means for receiving said primary means includes means for receiving video and said means for receiving said secondary means includes means for receiving audio.

17. - The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that said plurality of communication devices comprises a video camera and a fixed camera.

18. - The apparatus in accordance with the rei indication 15, characterized in that said means for selective diffusion includes means for selective diffusion based on requests received from the plurality of communication devices ob j e t i vo s.

19. - The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that said means for selective diffusion includes means for selective diffusion based on plurality types of objective communication devices.

20. - The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that said means for selective diffusion includes means for selective broadcasting of video at a reduced rate.

21. - The apparatus according to the indication 16, characterized in that said means for selective diffusion includes means for selective diffusion of fixed images.

22. - A communication manager, comprising: a receiver; a transmitter; and a processor programmed to implement a method for multimedia communication between a plurality of communication devices (CDs) operating in a group communication network, wherein the method comprises: receiving primary means; reception of secondary media; and selective diffusion of primary media, secondary media, or both, to at least one of the plurality of CDs.

23. - The communication manager according to claim 22, characterized in that said primary means includes video and said secondary means include audio.

24. - The communication manager according to claim 22, characterized in that said plurality of communication devices comprises a video camera and a fixed camera.

25. - The communication manager according to claim 22, characterized in that said selective diffusion includes selective diffusion based on requests received from the plurality of obj ective communication devices.

26. - The communication manager according to claim 22, characterized in that said selective diffusion includes selective diffusion based on plurality types of objective communication devices.

27. - The communication manager according to claim 23, characterized in that said selective diffusion includes selective broadcasting of video at a reduced rate.

28. - The communication manager according to claim 23, characterized in that said selective diffusion includes selective diffusion of fixed images.

29. - A system for providing group communication services to a plurality of communication devices, comprising: a primary communication device for converting primary means into data packets suitable for transmission through a data network, to selectively provide said data packets to said data network, and to selectively receive data packets from said data network; a secondary communication device for converting secondary means into data packets suitable for transmission through said data network, for selectively providing said data packets to said data network, and for selectively receiving data packets from said data network; and a communication manager communicatively connected to said data network to receive said primary means and said secondary means, and selectively provide said primary means, said secondary means, or both, to at least one of said plurality of communication devices.

30. The system according to claim 29, characterized in that said primary means includes video and said secondary means includes audio.

31. - The system according to claim 29, characterized in that said plurality of communication devices comprises a video camera and a fixed camera.

32. - The system according to claim 29, characterized in that said communications manager that selectively provides said primary means, said secondary means, or both, to at least one of said plurality of communication devices based on requests received from said plurality of communication devices.

33. - The system according to claim 29, characterized in that said communications manager that selectively provides said primary means, said secondary means, or both, to at least one of said plurality of communication devices based on requests received from said plurality of communication devices.

34. - The method according to claim 1, which also includes arbitrage between a primary plurality of users to receive the primary means, where each of the users provides the primary means.

35. - The method according to claim 1, which further includes arbitration between a second plurality of users to receive secondary means, where each of the users provides the secondary means.

36. - The method according to claim 1, which also includes arbitration between a third plurality of users to receive the primary and secondary means, where each user provides both the primary and secondary means.